The Abarth factory team will field Italian drivers Andrea Navarra and Umberto Scandola in the official Grande Punto Abarths for the Rally du Valais, round eight of the IRC from October 25-27.

Navarra is currently just seven points off the series lead, having led the championship for much of the year, while youngster Scandola impressed the team with a solid run to fourth place in Sanremo despite a lack of recent experience. With just two IRC rounds left to run this year, Abarth need to overhaul a 17-point deficit to Peugeot in the manufacturers’ standings, a daunting task.

The decision is a big disappointment for rally fans who were hoping to see the sport's hottest property, Anton Alén, continuing his asphalt 'education' on the Swiss round. Alén is unlikely to be seen on the IRC series until the season-closing China Rally in November, but the up-and-coming Finn will get in some practice by competing on the Italian Championship’s Costa Smeralda Rally in Sardinia next weekend with a factory Grande Punto. There he will be in action on his favoured surface - gravel - and he is set to play a major role as Abarth look to secure the manufacturers' title. Abarth wrested the championship lead in Sanremo from Mitsubishi and they will go to Sardinia with a slender three point advantage. On last year's Costa Smeralda Rally, driving a factory Grande Punto Abarth, Paolo Andreucci wrapped up the Italian title with a win which was also - significantly - the car's first victory on a gravel surface; at a stroke silencing critics who had doubted the S2000 car's ability to win on loose surfaces.

The Rallye du Valais takes place in the heart of Europe, with an awesome backdrop of lakes, trees and mountains. The demanding asphalt roads make this Switzerland’s premier rally, and as such it benefits from world-class organisation and facilities. The sinuous and slippery stages make it a real test of precision for drivers and teams, where it is only too easy to get caught out on a tricky corner.
 

Meanwhile Peugeot Italy driver Luca Rossetti, who has won rallies in Ypres and Sanremo this year, is hoping to add the forthcoming Rallye du Valais in Switzerland to his programme. But the Italian driver thinks that the Swiss event will provide a formidable challenge to his 100% success rate. With two victories from just two IRC participations, Luca Rossetti has certainly made his mark on the series this year. Rossetti is hoping that some budget can be found for him to do the Rallye du Valais – but he is not quite counting on making it three wins out of three just yet.

"My hope is to do the Rallye du Valais, but of course it doesn't just depend on me," said the Sanremo Rally winner. "If I do, I think it will be very tough for me to maintain my winning streak. Sanremo is my territory, and I knew I had a chance to do well before the rally started. But Valais is a completely different type of rally, so I have no idea what to expect. I imagine there will be some very competitive people who know the type of road quite well." Nonetheless, by winning two very different asphalt rallies in Belgium and Italy, Rossetti has proved his versatility and marked himself out as a rising star of the IRC.

His plans for next year remain undecided at the moment, but he is hoping to take in as much of the 2008 IRC as is possible. "I drive for Peugeot Italy, and their priority is obviously the Italian market," explained Rossetti. "But I'm going to push hard for us to do as many IRC rounds as possible. I think it brings us a lot of recognition."